Kirill Medvedev

Book containing a selection of Medvedev's poetry and short essays, in a collaborative translation by Keith Gessen, Mark Krotov, Cory Merrill and Bela Shayevich. All centre around the post-Soviet political situation in Russia and the reaction against it (of which Medvedev's writing is part). Provides an insider's view of the tensions within modern Russia and artists response to these which is only touched on simplisticly in Western media. To me the poetry is the most successful in doing this. A further aspect to the book is the author's renunciation of copyright, and this is written about too.

Quite a difficult read, but will be of great interest to followers of contemporary Russian life or international politics. Otherwise a good taster of these and, importantly, by a voice within the country.… (plus d'informations)